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"We understand you are clearly remorseful." The man must pay a government surcharge of £85 and prosecution costs and £25.

Judith Kirkham, prosecuting, said the alarm was raised when a neighbour sent a text to grandparents. They went to the premises at 10.30pm but could not get in.

"Police arrived very swiftly and went round local pubs. The defendant was located in one of the local pubs at 11.30pm.

"They took him back to the address. Police checked inside and the children were all asleep. The youngest was asleep on a sofa in the living room and there was an electric fire in the room," said Miss Kirkham.

When police interviewed the man, "he accepted that he went out to meet a friend and stated that he had been out somewhat longer than he planned," added Miss Kirkham.

The court ordered that he cannot be named to protect the identity of the children, who are all under 11.

Louise O'Driscoll, mitigating, said that only the lighting element of the fire was turned on.

After 13 years, the parents split up because the woman was "having a relationship with another man". The father is now on anti-depressants but had not taken them on the night of the offences.

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"He was looking after the children on a day-to-day basis but when the children were off school, it escalated during the school holidays," added Miss O'Driscoll.

A probation report said that both parents have a social worker. The man expects that the children will be returned to him after being taken away following the incident.

"He said he had been absolutely fine in looking after the children until the school holidays. But as a result of them, he was with them for a lot more time and had a lot more responsibility," the report said.

The man "took responsibility for his behaviour, made no excuses". The probation officer said the offences would probably have not been committed if he had stuck to his medication.